NBA Player News

The Wizards are without several players, forcing changes to the lineup that started Saturday’s loss to the Heat. Black, Watkins and Reese will start, replacing Bilal Coulibaly, Will Riley and Tre Johnson.

With a starting lineup that includes two limited perimeter shooters, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, the Heat clearly need players who can provide spacing. They signed Hardaway for that reason, and he had an excellent preseason debut on Saturday. The veteran guard didn’t miss a shot from the field, making all three of his three-point attempts. Klay Thompson (zero points, two rebounds in 13 minutes) was the fifth starter, but it’s unknown if that will hold once the regular season begins. Regardless of what Erik Spoelstra decides, Hardaway could have value for managers in deeper leagues seeking three-point production.

Like Scottie Barnes, Quickley did not play in the second half of Saturday’s preseason opener. Limited to 33 games in his first full season with the Raptors, IQ appeared in 70 games last season and was close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. While Kawhi Leonard will be a high-usage player in his return to Toronto, his presence should not negatively affect Quickley’s opportunities. With a current ADP of 97, he could be one of the biggest steals in fantasy basketball this season.

The Raptors didn’t need to push Barnes much in Saturday’s exhibition opener, so he spent the second half on the bench in street clothes. As usual, he did a little bit of everything during his 12 minutes on the floor. Barnes remains a highly valuable fantasy option regardless of league format, even with Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto. He should be no worse than a second-round pick in standard drafts.

Like the other Heat starters, Mitchell was shut down at the half. He didn’t have a great night shooting, but that shouldn’t dissuade fantasy managers from selecting “Off Night” in drafts. Miami lacks depth at point guard, especially with Dru Smith (hamstring) not guaranteed to be fully ready when the regular season begins. With Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the lineup, Mitchell could potentially provide more value in assists and three-pointers than he did in 2025-26.

With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo not offering much as perimeter shooters, Wiggins’ role stands to take on added importance during the regular season. Miami needs consistent shooting to help its spacing on offense, and Wiggins can help there. Last season, he shot a career-best 41.4 percent from deep on 4.9 attempts per game. Wiggins got up six three-pointers on Saturday in 13 minutes of action, and opportunities should be plentiful as he shares the floor with Giannis and Bam.

Giannis made his first unofficial appearance for the Heat, playing 14 minutes in the first half. The veteran forward didn’t miss a shot from the field and led the team with seven assists. One can’t take too much from a preseason game, especially with Giannis’ playing time being managed. But the seven assists are something to build on, as consistent production in that category may help compensate for Antetokounmpo’s poor free-throw percentage.

Because Saturday’s game was Miami’s first of the preseason, the team decided to shut down all five starters at halftime. Four of Adebayo’s seven shot attempts came from beyond the arc, including corner threes (both misses) on Miami’s first two possessions. With Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fold, Bam becoming a more consistent perimeter shooter is essential for the team’s offensive spacing. And that would also raise the center’s fantasy ceiling, so managers should watch this throughout the preseason.

The Raptors have experience with how to approach Leonard’s availability, as the team exercised caution with him during his first stint with the franchise. The training staff is taking a similar approach, as he was not made available for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Heat in Quebec City. According to TSN, Leonard is also expected to sit out the Raptors’ second exhibition, which is scheduled for October 10 in Vancouver against the Clippers. Fantasy managers don’t have much to worry about regarding Leonard’s availability once the regular season begins. However, the injury management may give some managers pause when evaluating whether to select him with an early-round pick in drafts.

Antetokounmpo’s Heat preseason debut is Miami’s biggest storyline, but Thompson’s fifth-man role also merits mention. He came off the bench for most of his two seasons in Dallas, which may have contributed to the veteran sharpshooter’s failure to provide consistent fantasy value. Thompson is one player expected to provide the perimeter shooting that Miami needs to keep the paint somewhat clear for Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. That would also enhance Thompson’s fantasy outlook, making him a player worth selecting in the latter rounds of standard league drafts.

The 14th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Hawkins could not carve out a consistent role for himself in New Orleans. The Pelicans traded him and Micah Peavy to the Grizzlies in early September, but the former lottery pick went from one crowded backcourt to another. According to Charania, the Grizzlies and Hawkins mutually agreed to part ways, allowing the guard to find a new team once he clears waivers. Regardless of where he lands, Hawkins is unlikely to impact fantasy basketball.